Gaslight Historic Date – June 22nd: ‘Oh how the mighty have fallen’

Approximately four days following his defeat at Waterloo, Napoleon Bonaparte’s second reign as Emperor of France came to an end. Several months later, he would begin his exile on remote St. Helene, where he would spend the remainder of his life. What had the former Emperor said upon thinking over the battle which cost him Read More …

On This Date…

In 1937, then heavyweight champion of the world, James (Jim) ‘Cinderella Man’ Braddock went up against the Brown Bomber, Joe Louis, for the title.  The title as you’ll see below says it all in the proverbial nutshell. If you have time to watch the entire fight, please do – it can be found at the Read More …

Gaslight Historic Date – Or Sometimes It’s Just As Easy To Find A Movie Scene

England. Runnymede on the Thames. The year is 1215 and the date is the fifteenth of June. John Plantagenet, the youngest surviving son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, and brother to Richard the Lion-Heart sits on the throne of England. John’s been having issues: with the Church, with his nobles, and according to Read More …

Gaslight Historic Date – 1935

On the thirteenth of June, the heavyweight championship of the world was fought at Madison Square Garden Bowl between champion Max Baer and 10 to 1 underdog Jim Braddock, nicknamed ‘The Cinderella Man’ by journalist Damon Runyon. By its’ conclusion, Braddock had won in what was called ‘the greatest fistic upset since the defeat of John L. Sullivan Read More …

Hell’s Kitchen – 1905…

James Braddock a.k.a. The Cinderella Man was born on this date in the New York neighborhood of Hell’s Kitchen. His life and career during the Depression era of the 1930’s was the subject of the movie, Cinderella Man, with Russell Crowe in the titular role.

Gaslight Historic Date: May 18th

On this date in 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte declared himself Emperor of France, also announcing his wife, Josephine would become his Empress. The coronation would not be conducted until December of the same year.    

The Blacksmith’s Daughter – Another Gaslight Birthday

She was born near Neston, Cheshire, England, on this day in 1765  the daughter of a blacksmith who died shortly after her birth. She was baptized on the twelfth of May in the same year. She became an actress, a model, a muse to an artist, and the mistress of one of Britain’s greatest heroes.  Read More …

Rise and Fall and Rise Again? (An Introduction – or Down the Rabbit Hole We Go)

As Sir Elton John (whose birthday was yesterday) might have sung ‘It’s a little bit funny…’ There is a bit of irony in the fact that March 25th 2001 celebrated the true return of the sword and sandal movie genre by giving Gladiator the Oscar for best picture and Russell Crowe the best actor Oscar Read More …